Page 197 of Bad Attitude
“So… you broke your phone, went home, he kidnapped you—which I’m still struggling to get my head around, by the way—then you left and came here. And the diamonds? Kurt’s box?”
I wince. “Declan has them both.”
Her eyes widen. “Yougavethem to him?”
“What? No! Hetookthem, Tasha. While I was drugged in his goddamn pickup.”Or probably when I was tied up half-naked in his basement.
“Huh.” She leans back, looking concerned. “Maybe he’s not who we thought he was, after all.”
Finally.“No shit.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to…” Hours on a park bench, three more on the road, and I still don’t have an answer to that.
“Find out who he is,” Dario suggests, leaning against the doorjamb of the kitchen, sipping from the coffee he was supposed to be making for me, then taking a bite of his sandwich. He gestures with it, dropping a glob of mayo on the floor in the process. “You know him better than anyone else. There must besomewhereyou can start...”
I lean back against the sofa, mind racing.
“…Someclue you can dig into?” he adds.
“Dario, shut up.” Tasha’s watching me.
“You’re an annoying bitch sometimes,” he sayssharply.
“Just be quiet. She’s thinking.”
Actually, I’m done thinking. It’s time to act. “I need a gun. Either of you got a gun?”
Tasha’s lips press thin, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Sure.” Dario takes a bite of his sandwich and speaks around it. “You want one with a silencer?”
Thousand Oaks is an hour away. It takes me fifty minutes, but only because I have to stop for gas again.
Tasha gave me money and a spare phone, entering her number into it with patient resignation. In case I wanted to call her and ‘discuss this impulsive plan.’
Impulsive, huh? Like drugging someone and kidnapping them?
I ride unerringly to the house I followed Declan to, pulling up in the same spot as last time, watching it for a minute.
There’s a car parked outside, lights on inside. I figure she’s home.
Dario’s pistol is a lump inside my jacket. I didn’t take the silencer; I’m not planning touseit. It’s just to ensure I get taken seriously.
Or if Declan finds me. I’m not letting that bastard get his hands on me again.
I take out the gun and slide it into the back of my pants as I walk toward the house.
Still not entirely sure what I’m going to do.
Okay, maybe this is a little impulsive. But I want answers.
I ring the bell, hearing it echo inside the house. My hand’s on the butt of the gun at the small of my back, covered by my jacket.
He’s the toxic one. He’s the betrayer.
I need that reminder to do this. Ends justify the means. I’m not going tohurtthis woman, just scare her a bit… if I have to.
